Front Brake line Question??

I have rebuilt my front brake caliper and I'm now looking to upgrade my lines to braided lines. I have a 1980 Maxim with the single brake on the left/clutch side, I have updated the handlebars and now I have excess top brake line. I have used a piece of rope to verify the length needed so all good there. Do I need to buy the 2 lines? Basically two short ones? Or can I remove the union under the headlight and just run one long line?? I intend to but SS Braided lines.....in my experience with other bikes that union is normally used to split the line from the master cylinder into two to feed both sides....this is not necessary on this bike. Please chime in with your thoughts, personally I can not see a reason for this, just multiple points of failure that could be replaced with a modern quality brake line.

Thanks,
af226(Brad)

 

Start a conversation with member Chacal. He'll get you what's needed.

Gary H.

 

Whats needed? Its a straight shot from the master cylinder to the caliper if the union is not needed. My master cylinder and caliper are both rebuilt.....its just the old crappy lines and union in between. I have a local guy that can make me the SS lines no problem or the single line if the union doesn't need to be in the run.....to be honest it seems like it would not be required, I guess that is my main question.

Thanks,
af226

 

You can do either. The distribution block adds some stiffness to the assembly, and also helps to clean up the look of the run.
One thing to note (and this is a pesonal choice that you have to make) is that the lines Chacal sells are DOT certified as an assembly. Almost all the lines from others are only DOT certified as individual components, which means that they will only be as good as the fella who is assembling them (e.g. they may or may not be tested following assembly).

 

Awesome thanks. I was pretty sure that the straight run would work. I have not decided which route i may go yet. Just getting christmas ideas togeather for my wife.....1 long line or 2? Ummm choices.

Thanks again

 

Use 2 lines, like the factory does. The elbow makes up about 5% of the overall length of the system, and has zero expansion. Even the braided steel lines have some amount of expansion to them. For the firmest feel, you want as much steel in the brake line system as possible......

 

Chacal, so now I wonder why one couldn't run a hard line from the master cylinder to the elbow?

 

Theoretically, you could, but you'd lose almost all adjustability, i.e. rotation of m/c on the bars (to adjust hand lever position), rotation of handlebars to suit driver's preferences, etc. Plus it would make any type of upper-end service less convenient, as you'd have to bleed the brakes anytime the line was removed.

But it would certainly stiffen up the brake lever feel quite a bit!

 

Good thoughts thank you.

 

Since I rebuild my stock MC and caliper I have been looking for new lines. Turns out that the MC needs changing due to the angle because of the drag bars I installed and the MC not being level. I have a few feelers out for a Seca 650 MC and am awaiting for word back, another rebuild no doubt. The Union to caliper is stock line no problem. The other line MC to union is a shorter run at a different angle then stock. I had intended on using the local guy for lines but they are only catalog order ers.....sigh....I guess I would have to have some one like chacal build me a custom line? I even considered Chinese crap for an hour or so. I guess a PM is in order. No offense but if I can support a local guy I will but hey. Maybe I should do new rubber lines to save $$. And yes everything has a budget Eventually this bike will be back on the road.

Ideas?

 

New rubber lines are not much of a money saver, considering that you'll need to replace them in a few years. Chacal has lines for exactly what you need to do, but a local shop can make them once you get everything mocked up on your bars for measuring purposes if that's the route you want to go. One thing about what Chacal sells: his lines are DOT certified as an assembly; most others are not.

 

Not trying to take anything away from Chacal but when I went to drag bars on my XJ650 '81 I used this and have been very happy with it.

http://www.dimecitycycles.com/goodridge-shadow-stainless-steel-universal-brake-line.html

The PO has replaced the line with one that was way too long and not a proper brake line so I didn't even know it was supposed to have a connector at the time.

I went with 34" line - which goes through the rubber O on the fender but not the metal bracket - I did a bunch of tests and found that at this length there's not enough slack for it to ride into the wheel. You should do your own measurements with a rubber/plastic hose ( not rope or string ) beforehand though as you may need to route yours differently. Make sure that when you do that you route it in such a way that other cables etc aren't going to push or pull on it when you turn the bars.

 

I will have to wait until I get a new rebuilt master cylinder and then take some measurements. I live in Canada so shipping from the US usually doubles the price. The attached pic shows how the brake line is to long and the MC is tilted down and in, I ran it as nicely as I could but may be dangerous.